METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MONITORING POWER CONSUMPTION

• US 20100167659A1
• Filed: 05/30/2008
• Published: 07/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Powerkuff LLC
• Original Assignee: Powerkuff LLC
• Inventors: Wagner, Charles G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,450,995 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/67.110
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/00 Measuring or testing not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2204/18 Remote displaying of utility meter readings
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/008 Modifications to installed utility meters to enable remote reading
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 22/061 Details of electronic electricity meters
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 22/063 related to remote communication
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/02 in which the signal transmitted is magnitude of current or voltage G08C19/36, G08C19/38 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

A power consumption monitor, system, and method for monitoring power consumed by equipment, appliances, devices, buildings, and campuses is accomplished by passive sensors (12, 40) that detect power transmitted by individual conductors (C), and which include a current to voltage transformer with a passive, open-circuit electromagnetic force concentrator (22) positioned near the conductor (C). The sensor (22) generates an amplitude signal proportional to the power passing through the conductor (C). Programmable radios on a chip (32, 62, 72) and systems on a chip (34, 64, 74) are used to transmit the amplitude signal to a monitor (50) that displays the power being consumed along with actual and estimated cost and historical information. Software programs are implemented across the sensors (12, 40) and monitors (50) and a remote computer (80) to enable real-time monitoring power consumption with a resolution that spans from entire campuses down to single devices.

Claims

1. A power consumption monitoring system for monitoring the power transmitted by at least one current-carrying conductor, comprising:

an amplitude signal generator adapted to produce and communicate an amplitude signal and including a passive, open-circuit electromagnetic force concentrator to be positioned proximate to the at least one current-carrying conductor;

a radio frequency signal generator configured to transmit the amplitude signal; and

a radio frequency signal monitor adapted to receive and convert the amplitude signal into a scalar signal, the signal monitor including a display showing the scalar signal in a unit of power consumption.

2. The power consumption monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the radio frequency signal monitor is adapted to collect a plurality of the amplitude signals and to convert the collected plurality of signals into an historical power consumption scalar signal, and wherein the display is configured to show the historical power consumption scalar signal in a unit of power consumption.

3. The power consumption monitoring system according to claim 1, being further adapted to monitor the power transmitted by a plurality of current-carrying conductors, and further comprising:

a plurality of the amplitude signal generators each with respective electromagnetic force concentrators for positioning proximate to a respective one of the plurality of current-carrying conductors;

a plurality of the radio frequency signal generators each in communication with a respective one of the plurality of signal generators and configured to convert and transmit respective amplitude signals; and

wherein the radio frequency signal monitor is adapted to receive and convert each respective amplitude signal into respective scalar signals, the monitor including a display adapted to show the respective scalar signals in units of power consumption.

4. The power consumption monitoring system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a radio frequency repeater in communication with the radio frequency signal generator and radio frequency monitor and configured to receive and retransmit the amplitude signal an additional distance;

a computer including a storage device and in communication with the radio frequency signal monitor;

a software program resident on the computer and being configured to periodically record the scalar signal to an historical database of power consumption information on the storage device; and

wherein the software program accesses power cost information and computes an actual cost of power consumed per unit time using the historical database.

5. The power consumption monitoring system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a computer including a memory and in communication with the radio frequency signal monitor;

a software program resident on the computer and being configured to record the scalar signal to the memory; and

wherein the software program compares at least one predefined alarm condition to the scalar signal and communicates an alarm event if the scalar signal meets the at least one alarm condition.

6. A power consumption monitor for monitoring the power transmitted by at least one current-carrying conductor, comprising:

a current-to-voltage transformer including a passive, open-circuit electromagnetic force sensor to be positioned proximate to the at least one current-carrying conductor, the sensor adapted to generate an amplitude signal proportional to the power being transmitted through the at least one current-carrying conductor;

a first programmable radio on a chip in communication with the current-to-voltage transformer to broadcast the amplitude signal;

a monitoring device with a second programmable radio on a chip in communication with at least one programmable system on a chip and a display; and

wherein the monitoring device receives, converts, and displays the amplitude signal as a quantity of power consumption.

7. The power consumption monitor according to claim 6, wherein the monitoring device collects a plurality of the amplitude signals and converts the collected plurality of signals into an historical power consumption quantity to be shown on the display.

8. The power consumption monitor according to claim 6, being adapted to monitor the power transmitted by a plurality of the current-carrying conductors, and further comprising:

a plurality of the current-to-voltage transformers each including respective passive, open-circuit electromagnetic force sensors for respective positioning proximate to a respective one of the plurality of current-carrying conductors, each transformer adapted to generate a respective amplitude signal proportional to the power being transmitted through the respective one current-carrying conductor;

a plurality of the first programmable radios on a chip each configured to broadcast the respective amplitude signal;

a monitoring device that includes a second programmable radio on a chip in communication with at least one programmable system on a chip and a display; and

wherein the monitoring device receives, converts each respective amplitude signal for display in units of power consumption.

9. The power consumption monitor according to claim 6, further comprising:

a booster module having a third programmable radio on a chip in communication with a third programmable system on a chip adapted to communicate with the first and second programmable radios on a chip to receive and retransmit the amplitude signal an additional distance;

a computer including a storage device and in communication with the monitoring device;

a software program resident on the computer and being configured to periodically record the amplitude signal to an historical database of power consumption information on the storage device; and

wherein the software program accesses power cost information and computes an actual cost of power consumed per unit time using the historical database.

10. The power consumption monitoring system according to claim 6, further comprising:

a computer including a memory and in communication with the monitoring device;

a software program resident on the computer and being configured to record the amplitude signal to the memory; and

wherein the software program compares at least one predefined alarm condition to the amplitude signal and communicates an alarm event if the amplitude signal meets the at least one alarm condition.

11. A power consumption monitor for monitoring the power transmitted by at least one current-carrying conductor, comprising:

a means for passively detecting the power being transmitted by the at least one current-carrying conductor using an open circuit voltage differential and for converting the voltage differential to an amplitude signal;

a means for transmitting via radio frequency energy, the amplitude signal; and

a means for receiving the radio frequency energy containing the amplitude signal and for converting the amplitude signal to a quantity of power consumption and for displaying the quantity.

12. The power consumption monitor according to claim 11, wherein the means for receiving, converting, and displaying the amplitude signal further includes means for collecting a plurality of the amplitude signals and for converting the collected plurality of signals into an historical power consumption quantity for display.

13. The power consumption monitor according to claim 11, being adapted to monitor the power transmitted by a plurality of the current-carrying conductors, and further comprising:

a plurality of the means for passively detecting the power being transmitted by the plurality of current-carrying conductors using respective open circuit voltage differentials and for converting the respective voltage differentials to respective amplitude signals;

a plurality of the means for transmitting via radio frequency energy, the respective amplitude signals; and

a means for receiving the respective amplitude signals and for converting the each amplitude signal to a respective quantity of power consumption and for displaying the quantities.

14. The power consumption monitor according to claim 11, further comprising:

a means for receiving and for retransmitting the amplitude signal an additional distance to the means for receiving the radio frequency energy containing the amplitude signal;

a means for manipulating the amplitude signal that includes a means for storing information and a means for communicating with the means for receiving the radio frequency energy containing the amplitude signal;

wherein the means for manipulating the amplitude signal includes a means for periodically recording the amplitude signal in an historical database of power consumption information in the means for storing information; and

wherein the means for manipulating the amplitude signal includes a means to access power cost information and a means to compute an actual cost of power consumed per unit time using the historical database.

15. The power consumption monitoring system according to claim 11, further comprising:

a means for manipulating the amplitude signal that includes a means for storing information and a means for communicating with the means for receiving the radio frequency energy containing the amplitude signal;

wherein the means for manipulating the amplitude signal includes a means for periodically recording the amplitude signal in an historical database of power consumption information in the means for storing information; and

wherein the means for manipulating the amplitude signal includes a means to compare at least one predefined alarm condition to the amplitude signal and includes a means to communicate an alarm event if the amplitude signal meets the at least one predefined alarm condition.

16. A power consumption monitoring system for monitoring the power transmitted by at least one current-carrying conductor, comprising:

a CVT including a passive, open-circuit EMF concentrator to be positioned proximate to the at least one current-carrying conductor, the CVT adapted to generate an amplitude signal proportional to the power being transmitted through the at least one current-carrying conductor;

a first PROC in communication with the CVT and including CVT software resident on the first PROC operative to convert the amplitude signal to a digital quantity, store the digital quantity, and to periodically transmit the digital quantity; and

a monitoring device with a second PROC in communication with at least one PSOC and a display, and including monitoring software resident on the second PROC operative to periodically communicate with the first PROC to receive and store the digital quantity and to display the digital quantity on the display in a unit of power consumption.

17. The power consumption monitoring system according to claim 16, wherein the monitoring software is further operative to collect a plurality of the digital quantities and to convert the collected plurality of digital quantities into an historical power consumption quantity to be shown on the display.

18. The power consumption monitor system according to claim 16, being adapted to monitor the power transmitted by a plurality of the current-carrying conductors, and further comprising:

a plurality of the CVTs each including respective passive, open-circuit EMF concentrators for respective positioning proximate to a respective one of the plurality of current-carrying conductor, each CVT adapted to generate a respective amplitude signal proportional to the power being transmitted through the respective one current-carrying conductor;

a plurality of the first PROCs each configured to convert the respective amplitude signal to a respective digital quantity and to respectively broadcast the digital quantity;

a monitoring device that includes a second PROC in communication with at least one first PSOC and a display; and

wherein the monitoring software receives each respective digital quantity for display in a unit of power consumption.

19. The power consumption monitor according to claim 16, further comprising:

a booster module including a third PROC and a third PSOC and being in communication with the first and second PROCs to receive and retransmit the amplitude signal an additional distance to the monitoring unit, and including booster software resident on the third PSOC operative to calibrate and store the received digital quantity and to periodically retransmit the digital quantity the additional distance to the monitoring unit;

a computer including a storage device and in communication with the monitoring device;

a software program resident on the computer and being configured to periodically record the digital quantity to an historical database of power consumption information on the storage device; and

wherein the software program accesses power cost information and computes an actual cost of power consumed per unit time using the historical database.

20. The power consumption monitoring system according to claim 16, further comprising:

a computer including a memory and in communication with the monitoring device;

a software program resident on the computer and being configured to record the digital quantity to the memory; and

wherein the software program compares at least one predefined alarm condition to the digital quantity and communicates an alarm event if the digital quantity meets the at least one alarm condition.

21. A method for monitoring power transmitted by at least one current-carrying conductor, comprising the steps of:

(a) furnishing a CVT including a passive, open-circuit EMF concentrator to be positioned proximate to the at least one current-carrying conductor, the CVT adapted to generate an amplitude signal proportional to the power being transmitted through the at least one current-carrying conductor;

a first PROC in communication with the CVT to broadcast the amplitude signal, and including CVT software resident on the first PROC operative to convert the amplitude signal to a digital quantity, store the digital quantity, and to periodically transmit the digital quantity; and

a monitoring device with a second PROC in communication with at least one PSOC and a display, and including monitoring software resident on the second PROC operative to periodically communicate with the first PROC to receive and store the digital quantity and to display the digital quantity on the display in a unit of power consumption;

(b) positioning the open-circuit EMF concentrator of the CVT proximate to the at least one current-carrying conductor;

(c) detecting the current being transmitted through the at least one current-carrying conductor and generating the amplitude signal;

(d) converting the amplitude signal to a digital quantity and storing the digital quantity; and

(e) receiving in the monitoring device the stored digital quantity from the first PROC and displaying the digital quantity on the display.

22. The method for monitoring power according to claim 21, wherein the monitoring software is further operative to collect a plurality of the digital quantities and to convert the collected plurality of digital quantities into an historical power consumption quantity to be shown on the display, and further comprising the steps of:

(f) collecting with the monitoring software a plurality of the digital quantities;

(g) converting with the monitoring software the collected plurality of digital quantities into an historical power consumption quantity; and

(h) showing the historical power consumption quantity on the display.

23. The method for monitoring power according to claim 21, being adapted to monitor the power transmitted by a plurality of the current-carrying conductors, and further comprising the steps of:

(f) furnishing a plurality of the CVTs each including respective passive, open-circuit electromagnetic force concentrators for respective positioning proximate to a respective one of the plurality of current-carrying conductor, each CVT adapted to generate a respective amplitude signal proportional to the power being transmitted through the respective one current-carrying conductor;

a plurality of the first PROCs each configured to convert the respective amplitude signal to a respective digital quantity and to respectively broadcast the digital quantity;

a monitoring device that includes a second PROC in communication with at least one first PSOC and a display; and

wherein the monitoring software receives each respective digital quantity for display in a unit of power consumption;

(g) positioning each open-circuit EMF concentrator proximate to a respective one of the plurality of current-carrying conductors;

(h) detecting the current being transmitted through each one of the plurality of current-carrying conductors and generating respective amplitude signals;

(d) converting each respective amplitude signal to a respective digital quantity and storing each respective digital quantity; and

(e) receiving in the monitoring device each stored digital quantity from each respective first PROC for display.

24. The method for monitoring power according to claim 21, further comprising the steps of:

(f) furnishing a booster module including a third PROC and a third PSOC and being in communication with the first and second PROCs to receive and retransmit the amplitude signal an additional distance to the monitoring unit, and including booster software resident on the third PSOC operative to store the received digital quantity and to periodically retransmit the digital quantity the additional distance to the monitoring unit;

a computer including a storage device and in communication with the monitoring device;

a software program resident on the computer and being configured to periodically record the digital quantity to an historical database of power consumption information on the storage device; and

wherein the software program accesses power cost information and computes an actual cost of power consumed per unit time using the historical database;

(g) receiving in the booster module the digital quantity;

(h) calibrating and storing the digital quantity with the booster software;

(i) transmitting the calibrated digital quantity to the monitoring unit;

(j) receiving the calibrated digital quantity in the monitoring unit;

(k) communicating the calibrated digital quantity from the monitoring unit to the computer; and

(l) computing an actual power consumption cost.

25. The method for monitoring power according to claim 21, further comprising the steps of:

(f) furnishing a computer including a memory and in communication with the monitoring device;

a software program resident on the computer and being configured to record the digital quantity to the memory; and

wherein the software program compares at least one predefined alarm condition to the digital quantity and communicates an alarm event if the digital quantity meets the at least one alarm condition;

(g) receiving the digital quantity in the computer;

(h) comparing the digital quantity to the at least one predefined alarm condition; and

(i) communicating an alarm event if the digital quantity meets the at least one alarm condition.